Combined ash receptacle and draft controlling door for domestic water heaters, stoves, and the like



Oct. 26,1948. "D GB RKERT 2,452,180

COMBINED ASH RECEP'I ACLE AND DRAFT CONTROLLING DOOR FOR DOMESTIC WATER HEATERS, STOVES, AND THE LIKE Filed June 14, 1945 4 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Qwms-L 61 flue/raw BY J JTTOAWEY Oct. 26, 1948.-

D. G. BURKERT 2,452,180 COMBINED ASH RECEPTACLE AND DRAFT CONTROLLING DOOR FOR DOMESTIC WATER HEATERS, STOVES, AND THE LIKE 2' Sheets Sheet 2 Filed June 14, 1945 INVENTOR. 04/1451 6 flQR/(ERT Afro/may Patented Oct. 26, 1948 COMBINED ASH RECEPTACLE AND DRAFT CONTROLLING DOOR FOR DOMESTIC WATER HEATERS, STOVES, AND THE LIKE Daniel G. Burkert, Boyertown, Pa. Application June 14, 1945, Serial No. 599,409

2 Claims.

:My invention relates to combined ash receptacles and draft controlling doors for domestic water heaters, stoves, and the like.

My invention contemplates the provision of an ash-pan adapted to receive ashes from the fire chamber of a domestic stove, particularly of the type'which are used for heating water and commonly known as tank heaters. The invention further contemplates the provision of an ash pan which is so constructed and arranged as to receive the ashes as the same fall through the grate, and also serve to scoop up any ashes which may fall while the ash pan is removed from its normal position beneath the grate.

One of the principal objections to tank heaters,- as the same are now made, is the limited capacity of the ash pit, and it frequently occurs that-the ash pit becomes filled and clogged because means for removing the ashes are not al- Ways readily available.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an ash pan which is adapted to receive the ashes from the grate of the stove or furnace as the same fall through the grate, whereby the ashes may be readily and conveniently removed without requiring the use of a special shovel for such purpose.

.A further object of the invention is to provide an ash pan, of the character aforesaid, which is so constructed and arranged as to form a scoop which may be used to gather up any ashes which may fall on the floor f the ash pit while the ash pan is removed, thus eliminating the necessity for a special shovel for such purpose.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ash pan, of the character aforesaid, which is so constructed and arranged that the draft may be easily regulated, and which will eliminate the possibiltiy of shutting off the draft through stoppage by the ashes accumulating within the ash pan.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ash pan, of the character aforesaid, which may be inexpensively constructed, and which will be adaptable for use in connection with the domestic water heaters at present in common use.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical central section of the base portion of a water heater of a well known type, with an ash pan embodying the main features therewith;

Fig.2 is a perspective view of the ash pan of the present invention removed from the heater;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a portion of the: structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail'view of: the front end portion of the ash pan detached;'

Fig.5 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, but with a portionof an internal partition partially broken away.-

It should, ofcourse, be understood that the: description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that .various modifications and changes may be made in the structure disclosedwithout departing from the spirit of the inven'- tion.

Referring to the drawings, the device of the inventionis therein shown in connection with al base portionwlfl of .a .Waterheatenof the type commonly known as a tank heater, ordinarily used for maintaining a domestic supply of hot water, and for auxiliary heating plants of small radiator capacity. In such tank heaters the water section I I rests upon the base Ill and encloses the fire chamber l2 below which the grate I3 is mounted. The grate l3 may be any of the types commonly used in connection with stoves or with water heaters of the type above mentioned.

The usual front or door frame casting of the heater base I 0 is omitted and in lieu thereof there is provided a casting Ill which serves as a support for the front ends of the shafts M of the grate members I3, when a rocking grate, or a grate of the rotating section type is employed.

The ash pan, comprising the principal novel portion of the present invention, is shown in detached perspective in Fig. 2 0f the drawings, and the front plate l5 thereof normally forms a closure for the opening in the front of the ash pit which in the water heaters as heretofore made are closed by the door frame casting and the door carried thereby.

Secured to the front plate I5 of the ash pan is a scoop like structure, comprising side plate 16, and a bottom plate I! which normally rests on the floor of the ash pit. The forward end of the scoop like structure thus provided is left open but the bottom plate l1 preferably extends beyond the ends of the side walls I6 to provide a lip l8 extending forwardly. If desired a brace l9 may extend across connecting the side walls [6 at their forward ends.

The front plate i3 of the ash pan is also provided with a handle 20, preferably extending vertically and located centrally between the ends of said plate.

The front plate l5 of the ash pan is also provided with a plurality of vertically extending slots II, and a plate 22, similarly slotted as at 23, is

slidably n mtmtcd jbnj "ihe iinner' Iace {of 3am plate member preierably by means of railn-ieuibem 24. The slidable plate member 22 has a knob 25 secured thereto, the shank 25 of which extends through a horizontal slot 21in theirontplate l5 thereby to permit the manual actuation =61 the slidable plate 22 for the purpose of closing or opening the slots provided in the front plate of the ash pan to regulate the amountof-air supplied below the grate. I

To the rear of the front plate there is provided an inclined partition 28 which is secured at its sides to the side walls l6 of the ash pan, which partition 28 will effectivelyiserve .to prevent the ashes which accumulate in the ash panafrom closinggthe epenings-tthroughmhich the airiis supplied totthc-spaoetbelow the grate.

It will {be seen. that -;by the foregoing :arrangement there is provided 'a simple, "efficient; zan'd relatively inexpensiue device by means of which the ashes which falltthr'ough 'athe grate may be readily and expeditiously removed from timeto time, and that the same is :so nconstruoted Sand arranged that 'ithere will be no-possibility of I the draftbeing stopped,orieven modified bythe ashes which accumulate in the ashmambetwoen the times 'of the removal of ime same, end anunobstructed-sconmiitztor theoiir whi'chmasses through the apetitures in \the: front'plate willb e' imaintained at-mltlmes. 1

I claim:

1. An ashxpan'for .usezin connection with wate heaters, :stoves, :and the .like having an 'ash pit provided wvith'a front =openingpcomprisin'g a flevice having a vertically disposed front plate which normally constitutes a closure for the front opening of the ash pit, a bottom plate and side walls extending from said front plate to form a scoop-like structure open at its inner end, the front plate being provided with apertures, means adapted to open and close said apertures, and a artitionm the .iievicerailjacent thei'front late to provitlean unobstructed-conduit"for air passing through the apertures in the front plate.

An ash pan for use in connection with water heaters, stoves, and the like'having an ash pit provided with a'front opening, comprising a de- -vice 'having a vertically disposed front plate which normally constitutes a closure for the front opening of the "ash pit, a bottom plate and side walls extending from said front plate to form a scooplike structure open at its inner end, the front plate being *provided with apertures, a complementally apertured plate slidablymounted on said front plate and adapted :to open and close 'saidapertunes, and a frearwardly inclined partition Lin the device adjacent the front plate storming .in conjunction therewith i an unobstructed conduit Efor air passing through the apertures in thesfront plate.

. DANIEL--G. BURKERT.

REFERENCES CITED The follow in'g references are of 'record'inthe file-of this patent:

UN'ITEDYSTATES PATENTS 

